Urnes Stave Church – Norway: A Spiritual Ambience!

This is a perfect place to visit to get an idea of the mesmerizing history and architecture of the Norwegian middle ages.

Please don’t forget to take your camera along as this church stands in the most scenic location and is a feast to the eyes. Upon arrival you are provided with a flyer that gives you a very descriptive information of this church and its past.

Stave churches are considered to be among the most important examples of wooden Medieval architecture in Europe. In the middle Ages, there were probably more than 1,000 stave churches in Norway. Today, only 28 remain, including Urnes stave church.

Urnes Stave Church | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

A stave church is made of wood, and the construction is made out of poles, hence the name. Most of the remaining stave churches in Norway were built between 1150 and 1350.  In Norway there was a tradition for using wood in artwork as well as in constructions, and this lead to the development of a unique technique that the stave churches are a perfect example of. The decoration is a fascinating mix of both Christian and viking symbolism.

Front view of the church | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

Urnes stave church is the oldest stave church in Norway. The church is from around 1130 and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and belongs to a rich family. Due to which it is richly decorated.

This church is also the most visited and most photographed church in the country. Runic inscriptions on the walls of this church are fascinating to all. This church is a perfect way to spend an afternoon soaking in history and eras gone by.